New Delhi: The Opposition on Wednesday discussed the 'deplorable' situation in Kashmir and the alleged thrashing of Dalits' by a new group of so called cow vigilanteas and sought the Centre's explanation in this regard.
Speaking in the Upper House, the Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said, ''I appreciate PM Modi's statement on Kashmir and his appeal to Kashmiri youth for shunning the path of violence. But we all want to know why it took the PM so long to break his silence on the issue''
Leading the Opposition charge on the issue, the Congress leader said, ''The PM tweets and expresses his condolences if anything happens in a far-off nation, but he addressed the Kashmir situation from MP and not from the Parliament.''
The PM chose to speak on Kashmir from MP and not from the Parliament. This is something which we fail to understand...we all want to know as to when MP has become the centre point of the national politics instead of Parliament, he added.
We have been repetitively demanding that PM should come and make statements on such issues in the Parliament, Azad said.
Cornering the Prime Minister further, Azad said, ''Everyone in Kashmir is a victim of militancy. Many of us have lost their near and dear ones due to this militancy in Kashmir.''
A militant is a militant, no matter where he comes from. Law and order is not sole responsibility of Kashmir Police, paramilitary forces are also involved, Azad said in Rajya Sabha.
Giving a piece of advice to PM, he said, ''Don't just love Kashmir for its beauty, love Kashmir for its people, love the children and people who lost their eyes due to violent protests there.''
There is a difference between communalism and separatism, the Congress leaders added.
Shifting his focus to the issue of Dalits' thrashing, Azad said , ''We did not hear PM's statement on Dalit issues here in the Parliament. We got to hear about his views from Telangana.''
On his turn, CPI-M General Secretary Sitaram Yechury urged the central government to work out a political solution to problems in the restive Kashmir Valley.
"We have to end the violence and the current bloodshed in Kashmir. And start a political process to bring an end to the problems of people of Kashmir," Yechury said in the Rajya Sabha.
While Trinamool Congress MP Derek O’Brien attacked Pakistan and said, “My advice to Pakistan is that please do not meddle in our internal affairs, please do not shed crocodile tears. Please do not say you have love for people of Kashmir. Please do not give us bhashans (lectures) from your generals, politicians and your establishment.”
However, Finance Minister Arun Jaitely sought to defend the Centre by saying ''J&K is facing a sensitive situation today, there's a need for all of us to speak in one voice.''
Under fire from a united Opposition, the government had earlier agreed to discuss the unrest in Kashmir in the Rajya Sabha first thing Wednesday.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh accepted Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad’s proposal to suspend zero hour the following day and start the discussion at 11 am. It will the second discussion on the Kashir crisis this session.
